Based on standardized precipitation index(SPI) and standardized runoff index (SRI), the variations of meteorological and hydrological droughts as well as the propagation characteristics from meteorological drought to hydrological drought at different time scales in the Jialing River Basin were studied using run theory, Pearson correlation analysis, Copula function and other methods. The results indicated that compared with meteorological drought, the intensifying trend of hydrological drought in the Jialing River Basin from 1960 to 2018 was more significant. The frequency of meteorological drought was higher than that of hydrological drought, while the average drought duration and drought intensity of hydrological drought were longer and more severe than those of meteorological drought. There was a lag in the propagation from meteorological drought to hydrological drought. The drought propagation time in summer and autumn was shorter than that in spring and winter. Meanwhile, it was shorter in areas with higher average multiyear precipitation than that in areas with lower average multiyear precipitation. Seasonal water consumption of vegetation led to the greater propagation probability from meteorological drought to hydrological drought in summer and autumn. Due to the influence of agricultural irrigation and reservoir regulation, meteorological drought in the irrigation area of the Jialing River Basin was more likely to cause hydrological drought.